Kent Peterson

Kent Craig Peterson, 90, of Gothenburg went on to his Heavenly Home on Oct 8, 2023. Kent was born on the family farm, 12 miles north of Brady, NE, in Wild Horse Valley, to Ernest and Susie (Craig) Peterson. 

He attended Spannuth Country School, through the 8th grade and then went on to Brady High School, where he  graduated in 1952, with a class of 7 students.  The summer before high school, Kent accepted the Lord as his Savior.  Even though he was reluctant, he felt it was God's plan that he attend High School. While in high school, he started a hay baling business after purchasing an Allis-Chalmers baler.  

Kent married Marian Rodine on September 18, 1954, at the Evangelical Free Church in Gothenburg. They moved to Wild Horse Valley and lived in the Johnson House, 3/4 mile east of the Peterson Homestead, where Tamera was born in 1957.  Later, they were blessed with three additional children Joni, Craig and Brent. In 1958, they moved to the family farm, when Ernest and Susie moved to Brady.

Kent was a father, farmer, rancher, entrepreneur, negotiator and of course a story teller. He was a man of many firsts in the Wild Horse Valley and was not afraid to think outside of the box. In the early 1970’s, when I-80 was opened, he built a fast food restaurant called “Kent’s Drive Inn '' known for his soft serve twist ice cream cones. Next door he built the first self-service gas station in the area where gas prices started at 33.9 cents a gallon. He also built a full service repair shop for customers along the Brady interchange.  During the summer, after farming all day, he would run the drive inn with the help of Tamera and Craig flipping burgers.

Around 1975, he wished to expand his farmland for crops. He put in two center pivots south of the homestead, which was quite hilly. He was the talk of the Wild Horse Valley as his neighbors watched him moving dirt and removing trees with his Caterpillar bulldozer.

He organized a Men's Brotherhood Group for local men in the area. They would meet once a month at the Svea Dal Church, where he was also a member on the Church Board, Sunday School Superintendent, a Deacon and on the Cemetery Board.

He enjoyed old cars and had quite the collection over the years.  One of his favorite cars was his 1948 Chrysler Convertible, which was featured in the movie, “Dear Eleanor”, that was filmed in Colorado in 2013.  He and Marian even made a cameo appearance in the movie.

In 1998, Kent and Marian moved to the family cabin at Jeffrey Lake. While living there, Kent continued to add on and renovate the cabin, in his spare time. They made many wonderful memories, with family and friends, during the time they lived there

Kent had a stroke in 2007, which left him paralyzed on his left side. It didn’t seem to slow him down much. They were able to spend a couple winters in Surprise, AZ, where they enjoyed the warm weather and being close to their Arizona family. Kent enjoyed playing shuffleboard and Marian enjoyed water aerobics. 

In 2016, they moved to a new duplex in Gothenburg. This worked out well for them in their golden years. They enjoyed 67 years of marriage.  They faithfully kept their covenant with each other and the Lord Jesus Christ, as the center of their marriage. As a couple, Kent and Marian enjoyed collecting antiques and traveling. Some of their fondest trips were taking a cruise, going to Hawaii twice, as well as visiting their children and grandchildren in Delaware, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Arizona.

Kent is survived by his daughter Tamera (Rocky) Herrick of St Johns, AZ, two sons, Craig (Kathy) Peterson of Berthoud, CO and Brent Peterson (friend Joyce) of Brady;  Eight grandchildren, Tanner, Colby and Drew Herrick of AZ, Kacee (Moore) Herrick, MI, Payton and Collin Peterson of CO, Shanell Peterson of TX,  Madalyn Peterson of AZ and 12 great grandchildren, and many more nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian, his daughter Joni Kay, his parents Ernest and Susie Peterson, his sisters Lavonne Peterson (Reichert) and Betheen Peterson (Melcher) and his in-laws Theodore and Nora Rodine. 

The family is requesting all memorials for Kent to be sent to Svea Dal Church, Brady, NE.  

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at the Brady Community Center on Friday, October 20, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.